Sterlin Harjo on The Lowdown
Editor’s note: This piece contains spoilers for The Lowdown.
Since Bogie famously popped the collar of his trench coat and prowled the streets of San Francisco, America has been captivated by film noir's style, swagger, and intrigue. Over the past seven weeks, Sterlin Harjo’s The Lowdown has embraced these noir elements while delivering a satisfying first season finale on November 4.
Plot and Characters
The latest FX series, co-created by Reservation Dogs creator Harjo, follows Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), an unconventional citizen journalist determined to expose Tulsa’s white-supremacist elite. In the season’s final episode, "The Sensitive Kind," Lee investigates the femme fatale Betty Jo Washberg (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and other figures.
Lee also confronts gubernatorial candidate Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan) with hard truths. As a result, Washberg severs ties with his crypto-Nazi supporters and returns his family’s stolen land to the Osage people.
Thematic Impact
The show provides a visceral satisfaction in portraying racists being held accountable and Indigenous Oklahomans receiving long-overdue justice. However, the series also reflects the stark reality that such outcomes remain aspirational today.
Harjo, a Tulsa resident, insists it doesn’t have to be a mere dream.
The writer-director shared his thoughts with The A.V. Club, emphasizing hope for change.
Author's Summary
The Lowdown combines classic noir flair with urgent social themes, portraying the fight against racism and the quest for Indigenous justice with nuance and hope.
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